D.J. Fluker is giving the Chargers what they expected -- and perhaps more -- when Tom Telesco drafted the Alabama tackle 11th overall last April.

Fluker, a starter on two national champions, is creating room for running backs, succeeding as a pass blocker and further pleasing teammates with his block-until-the-whistle hustle.

Right tackle is his best position, but when injuries to two teammates moved him to left tackle in San Diego's most recent game, against winless Jacksonville, the offense marched to a touchdown and on to a 24-6 victory. At the time, Fluker was playing through a calf injury suffered two games earlier.

"He just loves it; he loves it," Philip Rivers said. "There’s probably some guys that, banged up like he was, may have taken a week off. He wants to be out there. It means something to him, you can tell."

"Same as at Alabama," Fluker said, "we go out and play for one another. If you're a little banged up, you fight through the pain and still play. I was trying to fly around as best I could."

Fluker is proud of his Crimson Tide heritage and often refers to winning lessons learned under Nick Saban, a former NFL head coach and assistant who has guided Alabama to three national titles in the last four years.

Fluker's blocking tasks with Bama were a lot less complicated, however.

"We just ran the ball down their throats until they quit," he said. "Coach Saban used to say, 'Break their will,' and that's the mentality I've got too. Break their will. Make them quit. It's fun, seeing them roll around on the ground."

Fluker smiled at the difference. "Here," he said, "it's more passing."

Rivers, in his eight year as the starter, has aided the rookie by throwing super-quick passes and stepping up from edge rushers who beat Fluker to the outside.

Making use of the longest arms in his draft class, Fluker is pushing rushers beyond Rivers when his size-22 feet or inexperience don't allow him to shift fast enough.

The overall health results are excellent: one year after Rivers was the AFC's most-sacked quarterback (49), he's taken 11 sacks in the seven games; only the Broncos, Lions and Falcons have given up fewer sacks. Rivers has absorbed an NFL-low 18 hits. The franchise player said he felt "great" going into the four-day bye-week vacation that ended Sunday.

Based on the U-T's film review, Fluker has allowed 2.5 of the 11 sacks, the most on the team, but one came when Nick Hardwick snapped too early and Cowboys end George Selvie ran by Fluker to nail Rivers 2.1 seconds after the snap. The only pure sack against Fluker came in Week Two, when Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin uprooted him en route to a 2.8-second takedown. The half-sack came when Fluker, still at right tackle, allowed Jaguars end Jason Babin, twice a Pro Bowler, to spin by him and hit Rivers as another Jaguar shoved King Dunlap into Rivers.

Dunlap, the left tackle, said reduced head movement and smoother footwork are signs Fluker, 22, is reading NFL defenses better than two months ago.